Bipolar not ADHD: Unrecognized epidemic of manic depressive illness in children [Paperback]

George Isaac (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 2001

This book is about one of the most serious problems in the field of Child Psychiatry and Children¡¯s Mental Health today: the unrecognized epidemic of bipolar disorder, otherwise known as manic depressive illnes, in children and its misdiagnosis as ADHD and other disruptive behavioral disorders. The reasons for this serious and highly prevalent mental illness going undetected and misdiagnosed as ADHD are enumerated and clarified and the related socio-political issues and ramifications highlighted. The main goal is to make psychiatrists, mental health professionals, and others dealing with troubled children and adolescents become aware of this serious problem and help them become competent in identifying this illness in children and in providing them the best treatment and help available for it today. It is the author¡¯s hope that better awareness of the occurrence of this illness in epidemic proportions, unrecognized until now, will lead not only to better care for the children affected, but also, more intensive research to understand the biological causes of this illness and thus, the development of more effective, or even curative treatment in the future.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. George Isaac is a Child Psychiatrist who has practiced and taught Child Psychiatry in the U.S., India, and Canada during the past three decades. He has done studies on the occurrence and manifestations of Bipolar Disorders in children and adolescents, during the past fifteen years and published his findings in professional journals. He presently lives and practices in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (December 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595210910
• ISBN-13: 978-0595210916
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #776,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well organized discussion of this problem, March 17, 2003

By 

Avery Z. Conner (West Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bipolar not ADHD: Unrecognized epidemic of manic depressive illness in children (Paperback)

I found this book to be a straightforward presentation of why ADHD is often confused with bipolar disorder in children. The author seems to have a good deal of experience working with kids who have been given these diagnoses, and given the ubiquity of the ADHD diagnosis in children these days (someone should write a book called "Ritalin Nation"), and the growing appreciation that bipolar disorder can have a childhood onset, the author has uncovered a huge problem in American medicine. This book can supplement the information present in more comprehensive books about childhood bipolar disorder, such as "The Bipolar Child". Overall, an interesting read. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highlights important info, January 26, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Bipolar not ADHD: Unrecognized epidemic of manic depressive illness in children (Paperback)

It is so important for parents to understand that the co-morbidity rate between ADHD and Bipolar Disorder is extremely high. Not only can one be mistaken for the other, but they have an extremely high frequency of occuring together. This book does a good job of helping parents identify what could be wrong with their children.

S. Gurrentz, author of "If Your Child is Bipolar"

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wow. an EYE OPENER, August 21, 2006

By 

M. Martinez "MeL" (Rio Grande Valley TX) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bipolar not ADHD: Unrecognized epidemic of manic depressive illness in children (Paperback)

my daughter was misdiagnosed as having ADHD/Oppositional Defiance Disorder. for two years she suffered through medications that made her feel worse and as her mother, i suffered right along with her. i got this book delivered today and read it from cover to cover IN TEARS because FINALLY everything made sense. my daughter is finally stable on the right combo of medications. this book is very informative and easy to read. most of the info i already knew but some i had to look up and research further. this book put my mind at ease in knowing we are finally on the right track. well worth every penny. thank you Dr. Isaac.